Ghosts from Portland’s Industrial Past

Oregon has its fair share of haunted places, although none are quite as intentional as one of the newest city funded public artwork on SE Grand. The project titled Inversion: Plus Minus features “ghost structures” at sites where industrial buildings once stood like The Phoenix Cast Iron Foundry on Hawthorne. These public artworks are managed by Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) and selected by a panel of local artists and community members as a part of the city’s 2% for Art program. 

The skeletal steel sculptures are re-imaginings of buildings past by Seattle-based artists Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo of Lead Pencil Studio. Graduates of the University of Oregon School of Architecture & Allied Arts, Han and Mihalyo use weathered steel angle iron to create the mysterious structures. The artists received the 2007-08 Rome Prize for Architecture from the American Academy in Rome. Both sculptures are slated for completion by the end of the year.

First Thursday | May 2012

Even though the Summer days last longer in Portland, time seems to go by faster. That proved true when we realized it was time for May's First Thursday (we swear we just finished April's!) But as the saying goes, "time flies when you're having fun"!

As always we'd like to thank our friends at Widmer Brewing. 

Personal confession: I volunteer to work First Thursdays specifically for the Koi Fusion cart connivence. 

Celilo did not disappoint with their self described "bootgazing Indiecana, psych-folk dream pop" sound.

For more info check about upcoming shows and performances, please visit their Facebook.

This month's we featured photography duo Jeremy Pelly and Randall Garcia's work. We love the juxtaposition of the photos with the simple, geometric shapes. 

| Street Style |
Rugged Tretorns against unexpected, polished layers makes for an effortlessly cool look.

By far the cutest duo of the night! 

Oh my, bow tie. How can you not smile with some patriotic flare?

10% of this month's event went to the non-profit p:ear.

p:ear helps the homeless ages 15-24 create healthier lives and self-worth through education, art, and recreation.

For more info please visit their Facebook.

(Photos courtesy of Boone Rodriguez)